Community and business volunteers have been an integral part of the parade since it began in 1991 when a 50-year time capsule, featured as a parade entry, was placed in a vault at the Oak Tree Monument in Heritage Hill Historical Park.  Keepsakes included a Barbie Doll, action figures, utility bills, homes-for-sale flyers, brochures from local car dealers, restaurant menus, a Toshiba laptop computer, the commemorative inaugural booklet and other memorabilia.

City leaders believe the annual Independence Day parade signifies the importance of embracing the city’s rich, historical past so that future generations may enjoy the same hometown spirit.

This year Chick-fil-A sponsored the core group of more than twenty Lake Forest volunteers that teamed up with major parade sponsors Waste Management and Cox Communications.  John Irish believes a sense of community involvement has grown throughout the years. “We are all motivated to continuously improve the city’s signature event.”

The City of Lake Forest, California, a suburban community of 78,000 located in south Orange County, was incorporated as a city in 1991 to help ensure that it will always be an ideal place for business to prosper and people to live, work and play. Lake Forest is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in America.